playmate
gb/plˈeɪmˌeɪt/ us/plˈeɪmˌeɪt/
B1
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
role
1
a person you play with
A friend you play with, especially when you are a child.
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s playmate; a playmate for [someone]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse playmate (someone you play with) with classmate (someone in your class) or roommate (someone you live with).
Synonyms
play friend (Less common and more informal.)
|
companion (More general; not necessarily about playing.)
|
friend (Broader relationship than playing together.)
Antonyms
enemy (A person you oppose or dislike, not someone you play with.)
|
loner (Someone who is often alone rather than with companions.)
Collocations
childhood playmate
|school playmate
|neighborhood playmate
|a new playmate
|a favourite playmate
|a regular playmate
|find a playmate
|playmate from preschool
|playmate at the park
|playmate and friend
Themes
family
|childhood
|relationships
|daily_life
Examples
- My son met a new playmate at the playground.
- She still keeps in touch with her childhood playmates.
- The teacher paired each child with a playmate for the game.
Learner examples
- Tom is my playmate.
- She wants a playmate at the park.
Noun
B2
role
2
Playboy magazine featured model
A model who appears in Playboy magazine as a special featured model.
Usage pattern:
a Playboy Playmate; [someone] is a Playmate
Common mistake:
This meaning is usually written with a capital letter (Playmate) and refers specifically to Playboy.
Synonyms
centerfold model (Describes the role, not tied to Playboy branding.)
|
pin-up model (More general and not specific to a magazine title.)
Collocations
Playboy Playmate
|former Playmate
|Playmate of the Month
|Playmate of the Year
|Playmate centerfold
|a Playmate pictorial
|Playmate interview
Themes
media
|entertainment
|adult_life
Examples
- She was a Playboy Playmate in the 1990s.
- The documentary interviews several former Playmates about their experiences.
- He collects old magazines featuring Playmates of the Month.
Learner examples
- She was a Playmate in a magazine.
Noun
informal
C1
role
3
casual romantic or sexual partner
An informal word for a casual partner, often for sex.
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s playmate
Common mistake:
Because playmate usually means a child’s friend, this adult meaning can sound odd or inappropriate in many situations.
Synonyms
hookup (More direct and explicitly casual.)
|
lover (Often suggests stronger feelings or an ongoing affair.)
|
partner (More neutral and can imply commitment.)
Antonyms
spouse (Implies a committed marriage relationship.)
Collocations
casual playmate
|bedroom playmate
|weekend playmate
|secret playmate
Themes
relationships
|sex_and_dating
Examples
- He didn’t want a serious relationship—just a playmate.
- In the novel, she describes him as a wealthy man’s playmate.
- The gossip column hinted that the singer had a new playmate.
Grammar
Dictionary form
playmate
IPA
GB/plˈeɪmˌeɪt/
US/plˈeɪmˌeɪt/
Syllables & stress
play - mate (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (play)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: playmate
- Plural: playmates
Word family
Forms
playmates
noun
Related words
playground
noun A2
playfully
adverb
Negative and opposite forms
unplayable
adjective
Advanced or less common
playable
adjective
playfulness
noun
Expressions
playmate of the month
1/plˈeɪmˌeɪt əv ðə mˈʌnθ/
fixed phrase
monthly featured Playboy model
The title for the main featured model in a monthly Playboy issue.
Examples
- She was named Playmate of the Month in July.
- The article lists every Playmate of the Month from the first issue onward.
playmate of the year
1/plˈeɪmˌeɪt əv ðə jˈɪɹ/
fixed phrase
annual featured Playboy model
The title for the model chosen as the top Playmate for a year.
Examples
- She later became Playmate of the Year.
- The winner receives the Playmate of the Year title and a prize.